Church Bulletin: April 16, 2023

[Fr. Ignatius Valentine]

Sunday April 16, 2023- Great and Holy Pascha

Upcoming Services and Events

Christ is risen!  Christos anesti!  Al-masih qam!

April 14, Holy Friday

        + Royal Hours, 9:00am

        + Funeral Bier Decorating, 11:00am

        + Holy Bread Making Demonstration, 1:00pm

        + Activity for Younger Kids, 2:30pm

        + Great Vespers (unnailing from the Cross), 3:00pm

        + Lamentations Service, 7:00pm, followed by Psalm-reading Vigil through the Night

April 15, Holy Saturday

        + Vesperal Liturgy, 9:00am

        + Rush Service, 11:40pm

April 16, Great and Holy Pascha

        + Paschal Matins & Liturgy, 12:00am (midnight) followed by Paschal Feast

        + Agape Vespers, 12:30pm followed by potluck picnic at North Liberty Community Center (520 W. Cherry St.)

April 19, Bright Wednesday

        + Office Hours, 11:00am-2:00pm

        + Paschal Hours, 12:00pm

        + Paschal Hours, 6:00pm, followed by Bright Week meal and gathering

April 20, Bright Thursday

        + Office Hours, 11:00am-2:00pm

        + Paschal Hours, 12:00pm 

April 21, Bright Friday

        + Paschal Hours, 9:00am

        + Office Hours, 9:15am-12:00pm

April 22, Bright Saturday

        + Parish Council meeting on Zoom, 11:30am-1:30pm

        + Theology Discussion Group, 3:00pm

        + Great Vespers at St. George (3650 Cottage Grove Ave SE, Cedar Rapids), 5:00pm

April 23, Thomas Sunday and Feastday of St. George

        + Matins, 8:45am

        + Sunday School, 9:15am

        + Divine Liturgy, 10:00am, followed by Coffee Hour

      

Newest Announcements  . 

Paschal Messages from Metropolitan Saba and Bishop Anthony

They are attached.

No Office Hours on Bright Monday

Fr. Ignatius will not be holding office hours on Monday, April 17.

Bright Wednesday Paschal Hours & Burgers & Ice Cream!

At 6:00pm on April 19, we will pray the brief and joyful Paschal Hours service and then have some burgers and ice cream afterward. Plan to join us. Bring a side to share!

Theological Discussion Group, April 22

The first ever St. Raphael Theological Discussion Group was a great success on April 8. Our next meeting will be April 22 at 3pm, discussing Early Syriac Christianity. All are welcome. Contact John Michalski at jmic...@yahoo.com if you want the links for related material to be discussed.

No Vespers at St. Raphael April 22

We are invited to join our brothers and sisters at St. George Church (3650 Cottage Grove Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids) as they celebrate their patronal feast day of St. George the Great-martyr with vespers at 5pm.

Food For Hungry People Collection Boxes

        If you took a collection box to fill up, please bring them it back to church soon so we can consolidate the funds and send them in.  Thank you!

Bishop Anthony Visit April 29-30

His Grace Bishop Anthony will join us for the weekend of April 29-30. Please make every effort to be present for Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on April 30. He will be meeting with the parish council, Sunday School student and OCF at various times on April 29.

Parish-wide Potluck April 30

April 30 is the fifth Sunday of the month and as we do not have a specific food team assigned, all are encouraged to bring food to share.

Update!- Feed Christ’s Sheep: Campaign to Build a Kitchen at St. Raphael

We now have $36,471.80 pledged to this project.  We are so excited to be taking the next step in fulfilling our mission to serve those in need and connect in fellowship by building our kitchen so we can feed Christ’s sheep, and we invite you to be a part of it! Construction is slated to begin in summer 2023, and we need to raise $53,000 by April 30, 2023 to make this happen.

Please help us get the rest of the way! Learn more about our post-kitchen goals (including free cooking classes, more free hot meals, enhanced Sunday fellowship, and more) and donate online at raphaelchurch.org/kitchen. Clearly designated donations and pledge forms (available in the narthex) can be dropped in a donation box. You will have until March 4, 2024 to fulfill any pledges.

No Fasting During Paschal Season

According to Antiochian custom, there is no fasting during the entire Paschal season which concludes with the Feast of the Lord's Ascension on May 25. Meat's back on the menu!!!

Book Group News

        We finished up our last book and are now taking off a few weeks for Holy Week and Pascha.  Our next title is "On Social Justice" by St. Basil the Great.  We will announce when hard copies are available to purchase in the church bookstore.  They will be $18. E-book versions are available to purchase online.  Depending on how soon the copies come in, we will start on either April 27 or May 4 and spend six weeks discussing.  

Enthronement Service for Metropolitan Saba

        The Enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan SABA as Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America is set for Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Brooklyn, New York.

Parish Council Meeting Agenda

        Saturday, April 22, 2023, 11:30am-1:30 pm by Zoom https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/6506866751

1. Call to order and opening prayer 

2. Reading from Father

3. Filling vacant Council seat

4. Time for May and June meetings (moved to 4th and 2nd Saturdays)

5. Follow up on conversation with Bill Marianes. What are our action items? Looking into strategic planning

6. President’s Report: Capital campaign update

7. Preparing for Bp. Anthony’s visit - logistics, schedule

8. Mission/vision statement updates

9. Bylaws draft (Austin)

10. Treasurer’s report

1. Charitable giving - list of organizations

11. Ministry Reports

1. Food Pantry

2. Stewardship committee (Austin)

12. Old business

1. Reaching out to city about tree in easement (Dale)

2. Parking line painting

13. Review of action items and assignees 

14. Gratitude and “good of the parish” comments

15. Adjourn

Next Sunday's Gospel Reading

        On April 23, we will hear about one of the post-resurrection appearances of the Lord to the apostles, including the story of "Doubting" Thomas encountering the Risen Christ. https://www.antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/3436  John 20:19-31

Food for Thought

         Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

- from the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

        ________________________________

Recurring Announcements

Updated Food Pantry Needs

         Attached, you will find a list of items that we are in need of in our food pantry.  Monetary donations are also welcome.  We have exceptional buying power through the HACAP food reservoir, so your dollars are able to purchase more this way, than you can at the grocery store.  Also, please check expiration dates before donating food items.  We can't put expired food on our shelves.  

Scholarship Opportunities

        Information on various scholarships for Orthodox students can be found at this link.  https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/386

2023 Midwest Diocese Parish Life Conference, June 28-July 2

        Clergy and laity from our Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest gather annually at the Parish Life Conference.  This year, St. Mary Church in Palos Heights, IL is hosting the conference which will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton, in Oak Brook, IL on June 28- July 2.  Speakers include Fr. Jeremy Davis, Molly Sabourin, Mother Gabriella and others.  More information, and registration, can be found at: https://www.antiochianevents.org/events/diocese-of-toledo-and-the-midwest-2/

 

Link to Church's Google Calendar

        https://www.raphaelchurch.org/calendar.html

Information on Prayers for the Departed, Flowers for the Departed and St. Raphael Prayer Chain

       https://www.raphaelchurch.org/recurring-announcements.html 

Pray for our Catechumens

        Please keep our catechumens Ilya Buchkin, Scott Dorr, Madison Frei, Derek Ward, James Stockdale and Merrick Dodge in your prayers as they prepare to be sacramentally joined to the Orthodox Church.